LP0039 Odes of Athens

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• published: 18 Sep 2015
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Legendary Passages #0039 - The Odes of Athens - Athenian Youths and Maidens, from The Odes of Bacchylides. Last time we heard briefly how Theseus got the Crown of Amphitrite. This time we expand on that story, how Aegeus first hears of his son, and a fragment of the story of Io. The first Ode begins as the ship carrying the tribute of seven youths and seven maidens was on its way to Crete. King Minos desires the young Eriboea, daughter of Alcathous, but she rejects him loudly. Theseus confronts the King, who mocks the boy's parentage and challenges him to retrieve a gold ring he drops overboard. Theseus dives in, and dolphins take him to the Halls of the Nerieds, and he meets the goddess Amphitrite, who gives him purple robes and a rosy crown. Theseus returns to the ship, with ring and godly gifts, and the youths cheer him on. The second Ode is more like a classic Greek play, with a chorus and King Aegeus talking to each other about rumors of young Theseus heading for Athens. First the chorus asks why King Aegeus is preparing for an enemy. Aegeus heard from a herald who said a man of might approaches, and recounted his deeds. The chorus is intrigued, and asks if he leads an army. No, says the King, only two others, describes his weapons and his looks, and notes that the warrior is on his way there. The last Ode is a fragment entitled Io, for the maiden who was loved by Zeus and turned into a cow. She was held prisoner by Argus Panoptes, a giant with a hundred eyes, the perfect watchman. Zeus sent Hermes, messenger of the gods, to kill the watcher and free the maiden. Io eventually comes to Egypt, and gave birth to Epaphus, father of Libya, father of Agenor, father of Cadmus and Europa. From Cacmus came Semele, mother of Dionysus, and here the fragment ends, the ending lost to history. Next time we shall hear still more of Ariadne's Crown, and the other Stars of Athens. The Odes of Athens a Legendary Passage from The Odes of Bacchylides, translated by Sir RICHARD C. JEBB Ode XVI. [XVII.] Theseus, Or the Athenian Youths and Maidens. A dark-prowed ship was cleaving the Cretan sea, bearing Theseus, steadfast in the battle din, with seven goodly youths and seven maidens of Athens; for northern breezes fell on the far-gleaming sail, by grace of glorious Athena with warlike Aegis. And the heart of Minos was stung by the baneful gifts of the Cyprian goddess with lovely diadem; he could no longer restrain his hand from a maiden, but touched her fair cheeks. Then Eriboca cried aloud to Pandio's grandson with breastplate of bronze; Theseus saw, and wildly rolled his dark eyes beneath his brows, and cruel pain pricked his heart as he spake:- 'O son of peerles Zeus, the spirit in they breast no longer obeys righteous control; withhold, hero, thy presumptuous force. 'Whatever the restless doom given by the gods has decreed for us, and the scale of Justice inclines to ordain, that appointed fate we will fulfill when it comes. But do thou forgear thy grievous purpose. If the noble daughter of Phoenix, the maiden of gracious fame, taken to the bed of Zeus beneath the brow of Ida, bare thee, peerless among men; yet I, too, was borne by the daughter of wealthy Pittheus, in wedlock with the sea-god Poseidon, and the violet-crowned Nereids gave her a golden veil. 'Therefore, O war-lord of Cnosus, I bid thee restrain thy wantonness, fraught with woe; for I should not care to look on the fair light of divine Eos, after thou hadst done violence to one of this youthful company: before that, we will come to a trial of strength, and Destiny shall decide the sequel.' Thus far the hero valiant with the spear: but the seafarers were amazed at the youth's lofty boldness; and he whose bride was daughter of the Sun-god felt anger at his heart; he wove a new device in his mind, and said: — 'O Zeus, my sire of great might, hear me! If the white-armed daughter of Phoenix indeed bare ...